DISCUSSION AT SEPTEMBER FAR GENERAL STAFF MEETING OF PRISONER EXCHANGE, REDUCTI

Created: 9/5/1974

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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SUBJECT DISCUSSION ATEPTEMBER FAR OENERAL STAFF MEET INQ OF PRISONER EXCHANGE( REDUCTION IN FAR FORCES* AND MEASURES

TO BE TAKEN TO COPE WITH UNREST AMONG FAR ENLISTED MEN

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ENERAL 5TAFP MEETING TO DISCUSS IMMINENT PRISONER OP UAR (POW) EXCHANGES* UNREST AMONG ENL.STED MEN IN FAR, FURTHER PERSONNEL REDUCTIONS AND RELATED PROBLEMS. DURING THE MORNING SESSION, MINISTER Or DErENSE NA CHAMPASSAK. MHO REHAINED ONLYHORT PERIOD* REQUESTED FACTUAL EVIDENCE OF THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF NORTH VIENTNAMESE ARHY (NVA) TROOPS IN EACH MILITARY REGION (HR)RESENTATION BY HIM TO THE CABINET MEETING, FOLLOWING SISOUK'S REQUEST, EACH MR .CWFIANDCTESUME OF THE NUMBERS AND LOCATIONS OF NVA IN HIS REGION. MR II COMMANDER GENERAL VANG PAO REPORTED THATVA TROOPS HEHAIN IN MR II FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF APPROXIMATELY THO NVA DIVISIONS FROM THE REGION, IN MR 1 IT MAS REPORTED THATVA TROOPS REMAIN, THE MR III COMMANDER REPORTED THATVA TROOPS' WHERE THE NVA HAVE SINPLY ROTATED THEIR TROOPS BUT HADE NO WITHDRAWALS. THE MR IV CONHANDfiR REPORTED iV .

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or no far support ano with little prospects forin the ClVlL government, general sounpone called upon all commanders, service chiefs and general officers to give priority attention to this oangerous situation and potential threat, he urqed those present to make EVERY effort to stimulate enlisted men to understand the current poor economic and financial situation of the government and to make the sacrifices required during this critical postwar period in order to make the coalition government work,

3, after considerable discussion about the causes of unrest ahonq enlisted men and veterans and positive steps that far could take to rectify the situation,

it has agreed toroposal Or far deputy

commander in chief

toeeting If the vientiane garrisoneptember to discuss hays to monitor the unrest and to eek means tootentially dangerous situation, -

proposed and the participants agreed

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DISCIPLINE AMD ALERTNESS TO FACE ANT EVENTUALITY,

NR IV COMMANDER CHOKIINBQBOUN

AGREED TOR IEFI NO ON THE CURRENT COLD MAR

POLITICS BE1NQ CONDUCTED IN VIENTIANE BY THE LP'* IT

MAS AGREED THAT THE MEETING MILL BE ATTENDEO BY APPROXIMATELY

IELD GRADI AND GENERAL OFFICERS AT PHONE KEnO CAMP.

4, FOLLOMlNG THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION.

BRIEFED THE PARTICIPANTS ON THE IMMINENT

EXCHANGE OF POM'S AS AGREED TO BY THE THO SIDES IN THE JOINT COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT.THE

REGARDING THE RETURN OF THEVA PRISONERS HELD AT SAM KHE PRISONiF

JSAID THAT THESE PRISONERS HILL II TRANSPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO PHOU MHAO KHEI HHERfi THEY wIll BE

INTERVIEHED TO DETERMINE HHfiTHERISH TO'

RETURN TO HANOI OR LIVE IN LAOS OR SOUTH VIITNAM. THOSE HHO DESIRE TO RETURN TO NORTH VIITNAN HILL THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO TH| POINTS OF EXCHANGE ASHOSE PRISONERS MHO MERE CAPTURED IN MRSILL

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be transported to rmonsavanh in thl plain of jarsi those captured inill be transported toho sb aptureo in hp's iii ande transportidoint near palaneespectively

said that oneptember the two bides

hill exchange lists op prisoners' and that the first bxchanqb hill take placeeptember at phonsayanm.at this exchahqe

hai prisoners and the american prisoner hill be released also.

so tic that the thai prisoners

hill then be transported immediatelybctlv to nam phonghere the thai government nab

eception grnter to provide medical treatment.

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clothing. funds and other acuities for these nbn. ahong

otherd that the thai

illion bant to mbv1di eachio bant resettlement honey, the ob hin will acs? have the choice op remaining in thb army

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ehikino civilian employment. .

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NOTIO THAT NO IUCH PREPARATIONS HAVI

BEEN MADE IY PAR ON IT THE VIENTIANE SIDE ON THE PRO* VISIONAL QOVIRNHlNT Of NATIONAL UNION (PQNU) TO ASSIST PAR PRISONER! RELEASED IT LPP/NVA.

SAIO THAT FAR HASEN AS HAVlNQIY THE INENY IUT THAT IT II NOTHON MANY PRISONERS HILL ACTUALLY IIMANY OF THEM HAVE SINCE COOPERATED WITHTHE LPPTHAT FAR DOlS NOT

HAVE THE FUNDS TO PROVIDE EACH RELEASEDIIIAILI AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR RESETTLEMENT BjT THAT CLEARLY KWETHINQ MUST IE DONE TO PREPARE FOR TMIIR RETURN.

SUGQESTED AND THE PARTICIPANTS

AGREEDPECIAL COMMITTEE HOULD IE SIT UP TO DIS*

CUSSATTER ANDSPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR

PQNU APPROVAL TO ASSIST THE RETURNED SOLDIERS. FOLLOHINQ

SOME DISCUSSION Of THIS MATTER. ITO THAT

DIRECTOR OP THE MJNIITRY Cr NAT0NAL DE'ENI* QINERAL

SANANSKONE HILL HEAD THIS COMMITTEE. BENIRAL OUDONl

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HILL IE ASSISTED IY. SAIORITM.

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OEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFFS,

MISAIPHON. DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THR MINISTRY*

OF NATIONAL DEFENSE* (TMAO) LY, T

CHOUNRAMANY, CHIEF OF THE MILITARY SECURITY SERVICE,

SEVERAL OFFICIAL OFFICIALS FROM THE MINISTRIES OF HEAUTH, INTERIOR

AND FINANCE. IT MAS AGREED THAT THIS COMMITTEE MOULD

MEET DURING THE WEEK AND DRAFT THEIR PROPOSALS FOR

DISCUSSION HITH SiSOUK PRIOR TO THE NEXT CABINET MEETING,

6. DURING THE AFTERNOON SESSION OENERAL SOURITNRIEFING ON THE REQUIRED ADDITIONALMILITARY PERSONNEL FROM00 MEN IYR1TH SAID THAT EACH mr WILL HAVE TO REDUCE ITS STRENGTH AND REPORT TO THE GENERAL STAFF ON

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A QUARTERLY BASIS, EACH QUARTER FAR MUST REDUCE ITS 8TRRNQTH BYfiRSONNSLi BOuRITH SAID THAT NOT ONLYUTAl FUNDS BE REDUCEDUARTERLY BASIS BUT ALL COMMODITYSUCH AS RICE. FUEL AND FQOD STUFFS HILL BE REDUCED ACCORDINGLY. FOLLOWING SOURITHiSENERAL DISCUSSION TOOK PLACEREAT NUMBER OF QUESTIONS* COMMlNTS-AND COMPLAINTS HERB RAISED BY THE MILITARY COMMANDERS, MROMMANOSR GENERAL VANO PAO.jMHO HAS ONI OF THE MORE VOCAL SPEAKERS. NOTED THAT'He'IB OlLlBfiD' TO REDUCE HIS

strengthen, hi said that ifeduction is effected he hill note to diflnd the area under his command, he sked hhether something coulo ie done to obtain the funds and support required to maintain current troops levels. he added that into the pact that further ww reductions hill undermine basic and vital security in his region. the additional released soldiersrovide increased economic and social prolllni because there simply arb no employment opportunities for the discharged hen. general !

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bounpone replied that he understood vang pao's position. but that the qnu has no funds to provide far, far is som totally dependent on the american government hhlch must adjust its military assistance to laos in accordance hlth the prospects for permanent peace in this country. general bounpone saio that the additional riductionl hill ie gradually madeuarterlt basis, should an imsroincy situation occur in the meantime* th*maml'|r| hill have to rcvifih th| situation at that time. honeveri for th| present. far muitlonq hith the 4her1can proposals.

7, in discussing the security situation in mr ii. thegreed to provide assistance to general vang pao through making availalll thrie iattalions from nr ii for guard dutyh| iala phqu

rAOtiaOP VMM

AREA, OENERAL VANO RAO AORRBD TO TRANSFERS CURRBNTLT

IN THAT AREA TO BOLSTER THE OVERALL' SECURITY OF

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Original document.

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